Grammy-Nominated Alum Shares Berklee Wisdom with His Student Sister I thought graduating with a double major would be the key to success, Carlos Perez de Anda BM '14 tells his sister Andrea, but it was the relationships I built that truly opened doors.
By
Andrea Recalde
February 6, 2025
Carlos Perez de Anda BM '14
Image courtesy of the artist
Many of us at Berklee dream about turning our time here into a successful and fulfilling career in the music industry. Still, the path isn't always as glamorous as we imagine. As a current Berklee student, I have found myself wondering how to make the most of this experience and if many of the things I do here will benefit me in the future.
Luckily, I didnt have to look far for some real-world insight-my brother, Carlos Perez de Anda BM '14, graduated with a double major in music production and engineering (MP&E) and electronic production and design and has since built a successful career within the industry. While at Berklee, he won the MP&E/EPD Dual Major Award; since graduating, he has worked with artists such as Beyonc , Alicia Keys, and Shakira. He's got one Grammy nomination and two Latin Grammy nominations under his belt. Currently, Carlos works as the studio manager and chief engineer at Alacran Studios in Miami, Florida.
As his sister, I have seen him grow, struggle, and flourish into the person he is today. I recently had the opportunity to interview him, giving him the space to share his insights from the perspective of a successful former Berklee student.
In our conversation, Carlos discussed the realities of moving to Los Angeles right after graduation, the challenges of working with major labels, and why the best advice is never to work for free. He also stressed the importance of finding balance, staying true to yourself, and being patient in an industry that often feels like a race against time.
If you could return to your years at Berklee, what would you do differently? What advice would you give yourself?Id take it slower-theres no rush; thats the first thing Id say to myself. Im proud of graduating with a dual major in MP&E and EPD, but I wish I hadnt rushed through semesters or felt the need to graduate quickly. Id skip the condensed summer semesters, and I wouldnt change anything except my mindset from, I gotta graduate, to, Lets enjoy this.
How did you find a music-related job after Berklee? How essential is it to make connections here?Making connections is the most important aspect of building a career-more important than your major, essays, or GPA. The relationships you form at Berklee are invaluable and will be crucial to your success. After graduation, job prospects often dip, but your network will start to resurface and create opportunities. Getting a job right after Berklee can be tough, especially in a saturated industry. You may have to start from the bottom, so its important to create consistently and reach out to others.
I thought graduating with a double major would be the key to success, but it was the relationships I built that truly opened doors. . . . It's not what you know, it's not who you know, it's who knows you.
It's not what you know, it's not who you know, it's who knows you.
- Carlos Perez de Anda BM '14
What was it like moving to LA right after Berklee? What advice would you give to people considering that for their path?First, choose a city you genuinely like; if New York differs from your vibe, you won't enjoy it. I recommend visiting the city youre considering to get a feel for it, for example, and understand the transportation options. I had family in LA, which helped, but coming from Boston, where you dont need a car, I quickly realized LA requires one. Dont rush; you have more time than you think.
How was your first experience dealing with major labels or contracts? What do you think is a common mistake people make when dealing with the business side of things for the first time?First, sort out your finances; if you work for a label, youll have a W2, making tax filing straightforward. For freelancers, create your own company to manage billing and taxes effectively. My early experiences with major labels were frustrating because they often delayed payments. Now, I get ahead by asking for a PO [purchase order] number and required forms before sending invoices to ensure I will be paid on time. Be persistent and assertive; pursue what youre owed, especially when it comes to major labels and artists, so you are credited the way you're supposed to. Always confirm details in writing, ideally through email, and consider signed contracts for extra protection.
What do you look for in people who apply to be a part of your team?Im picky when selecting team members. First, I prioritize a positive attitude; I want people who learn from their mistakes and contribute positively to the rooms energy. Second, I look for those willing to do whatever it takes and help without constant prompting. Common sense is so important, as is being attentive to detail and knowing when to talk and when to listen. Id prefer someone with the right attitude over someone technically proficient but who needs to improve in the areas that say who you are.
Do you have any other advice for current students?Its good to recognize and enjoy the different phases for what they are. We often live our current phase while thinking about the next one, which prevents us from enjoying the present. Start developing habits like eating healthily and exercising, as your body will remind you that you needed to have done that earlier. One of the biggest things to remember is that theres always a deal to be had, and its never a good idea to work for free. Instead, find ways to negotiate value, as even internships offer valuable experiences.
Andrea Recalde is a songwriting and musi
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
12/06/2026
YES Network and The Gotham Sports App will air seven Athletes Unlimited Softball...
12/06/2026
The United Football League will host its FAST Innovation Suite at the 2026 United Bowl presented by Credit One Bank on Saturday, June 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET at Audi...
12/06/2026
PTZOptics and LayerJot will present live demonstrations at InfoComm 2026 showing how natural-language AI prompting, robotic camera control, and on-device comput...
12/06/2026
MultiDyne Video and Fiber Optic Systems will exhibit at InfoComm 2026, featuring...
12/06/2026
Ateme has announced that Eurovision Services is using Ateme's software-based frame-rate conversion technology for international live event workflows. The de...
12/06/2026
Bitmovin and Simplestream have announced a partnership with Xperi to simplify the launch of OTT streaming services on TiVo OS smart TVs and devices. The collabo...
12/06/2026
Net Insight has announced that a multinational technology company is deploying a...
12/06/2026
MLB Players Inc., the business arm of the MLB Players Association, has announced a partnership with Athletes First to develop and sell brand partnerships across...
12/06/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D) and VuWall have announced the CommandKeyboard-Advanc...
12/06/2026
Comcast Smart Solutions announces a new smart technology deployment with Major L...
12/06/2026
Elevation Worship completed the initial leg of its Elevation Nights 2026 tour ...
12/06/2026
AJA Video Systems has announced KONA IP25 support for Colorfront Transkoder and ...
12/06/2026
Audinate Group Limited (ASX: AD8) will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth C7321, Ce...
12/06/2026
Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould has announced the appointment of Scott Adametz as Chief Technology Officer. The Pac-12 describes the hire as the first CTO appo...
12/06/2026
Grass Valley has announced AMPP Edge Live, a production system combining Grass Valley hardware, NVIDIA Blackwell GPU acceleration, and AMPP OS in a single platf...
12/06/2026
At one time a trailblazer with the launch of the Longhorn Network, the Universit...
12/06/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
12/06/2026
Chyron has announced PAINT 10.4, an update to its illustrated replay and sports ...
12/06/2026
SVP, Production Mark Gross: With the new schedule, with not having every Sunday night, it's given us an opportunity to take a step back and reimagine what ...
12/06/2026
For Televisa Technical Engineering Manager Roberto N nez Ibarra and the small team of 12 technicians and two production personnel at the IBC things are already ...
12/06/2026
Simple Steps to Better Acoustics - Taming The Small Room
Most of us mix in spare rooms and small spaces, where the acoustics fight us at every turn. At Gear...
12/06/2026
Latest addition expands vintage-inspired effects palette
Meris' Ottobit pedal range draws its inspiration from vintage gaming consoles, and the latest a...
12/06/2026
Soundbox-based chamber strings series expanded
Sonora Cinematic have just announced the launch of the second instalment in their Soundbox-based chamber stri...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
AJA Announces KONA IP25 Integration with Colorfront Software
Brie Clayton June 12, 2026
0 Comments
Collaboration enables uncompressed SMPTE ST 2110 I/O ...
12/06/2026
URSA Cine 12K LF Used to Create Visuals for STUTS' K-Arena Concert
Brie Clayton June 12, 2026
0 Comments
Organic visuals projected on a giant scre...
12/06/2026
MTI FILM Acquires Mango New Edit, Expanding its Global Post-Production Services ...
12/06/2026
AI Point Tracking Speeds Up Complex VFX Tracks in Mocha Pro
Jessie Electa Petrov June 12, 2026
0 Comments
The 2026.5 release adds automatic point trac...
12/06/2026
Bitmovin, a provider of video streaming solutions, has partnered with Simplestream, a provider of OTT and broadcast solutions, and technology provider Xperi, to...
12/06/2026
Leostream Corporation, creator of the world-leading Leostream Remote Desktop Access Platform, today announced Jigsaw24, a leading B2B IT solutions provider wit...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
How Aussie indie games and screen are levelling up with IP 11 June 2026
Ari Harrison, Pro Jank Footy
Head of Games Joey Egger and Ari Harrison of Umbrella sha...
12/06/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils First-Look Images from Villaflor, Santiago Mitre's New Film
Entertainment
12 June 2026
GlobalArgentina
Link copied to ...
12/06/2026
Back to All News
Cross the Boundaries of the Real World into the Spirit Realm i...
12/06/2026
With John Daro, DI Colourist at Warner Bros. Water Tower Color Tuesday 23 June, 10am-1pm or 3-6pm
Restar Corporation
Tokyo
Register here
John Daro is the ...
12/06/2026
Meet The Grumpy Onion Ireland's newest online sensation, all he wants is to ...
12/06/2026
RT stays Up All Night with brand new daily 2026 FIFA World Cup Vodcast
Adding to the fun around 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament, RT has launched a brand new d...
12/06/2026
A fentanyl countermeasure that adapts to combat future black-market drugs Scripps Research scientists developed a vaccine that teaches the immune system to rapi...
11/06/2026
The immense size of the tourney and its Atlantic-spanning operation also disting...
11/06/2026
Nielsen has released a new soccer fandom consumer research report, The Fans Behind The Game: FIFA World Cup 2026 Edition, examining the soccer audience in the...
Grammy-Nominated Alum Shares Berklee Wisdom with His Student Sister I thought graduating with a double major would be the key to success, Carlos Perez de Anda BM '14 tells his sister Andrea, but it was the relationships I built that truly opened doors. 
